Fall 2018 Course Syllabus
ENG-202: Writing with Power and Grace
MWF 2:10-3:00 p.m.
Center Hall, Room 305
Professor:Matthew Lambert Email: lambertm@wabash.edu
Office Location: Center Hall 311 Office Hours: MWF 11am-12pm
Office Phone: 765-361-6049 TTh 1-2pm
COURSE DECRIPTION
In this class, we will focus on the intricacies of essay writing. Using some of the most powerful essays of the twentieth century as models, we will identify rhetorical strategies and tools that help make effective writing and use them to craft our own essays. In the second half of the semester, we will write about major issues, traditions, people, and events associated with Wabash College and the city of Crawfordsville. To do so, we will learn to incorporate archival research, interviews, and immersions in our essays.
Required Books (available on Amazon or other online book dealers):
clean, well-lighted sentences: A Guide to Avoiding the Most Common Errors in Grammar and Punctuation(Janis Bell, 2008)
The Best American Essays of the Century(Oates and Atwan, 2000)
Course Goals:
- Identify and practicethe major tools and strategies of effective essay writing.
- Gain experience usingarchival materials, interviews, experiential field work, and other forms of research.
- Read and analyze some of the most engaging essays of the previous century.
- Become familiar with Crawfordsville’s major figures, events, and issues, from both the past and the present.
Class Participation
It’s imperative that you complete all assigned homework/reading and come prepared to participate in class. You are expected to contribute to general class discussions, to contribute to small group discussions, to seek feedback from other class members on work in progress, and to provide thoughtful feedback to other class members on their work. You will be graded on class participation.
Attendance and Lateness
Since this is a small discussion class, attendance is mandatory. You are allotted three absencesin this class without penalty—once you miss your fourth class, your grade will begin to drop by half a letter grade for each additional absence. You need to plan your semester carefully so that you do not use all of your personal/sick days at once. In the case of university-sanctioned activities (e.g., athletics or a course-specific trip that takes you out of town), you must provide a Dean’s Excuse. If you miss a class meeting, you are responsible to contact your peers for materials and information youmissed. You should also complete and turn in all homework by the due date.
Please arrive on time. Lateness not only disrupts the class but also shows a good deal of disrespect for your peers and instructor. If you are more than 15 minutes late to class, you can be marked absent—talk to me after class if you think that you were over 15 minutes late for unavoidable reasons.
Academic Integrity
At Wabash College, we believe in the excellence of our students and in the integrity of our academic programs. As stated in the Gentleman’s Rule,
“The student is expected to conduct himself at all times, both on and off campus, as a gentleman and a responsible citizen.”
Being “a gentleman and a responsible citizen” includes not taking credit for the work of others. This means properly attributing/citing the ideas of others in your written assignments, not turning in somebody else’s work as your own, and not submitting an essay already submitted for a previous course. Failure to follow these guidelines can result a failing grade for the entire course and referral to the Dean’s office for further disciplinary action.
Meeting Deadlines
All written assignments must be submitted on the due date. For every day that a rough draft, in-class assignment, or homework assignment is late, I will deduct one point. For every day that a final draft is late, I will deduct half a letter grade.
Writing Assignment Extensions
Everyone has one extension pass good for up to two days. The extension is only good for final drafts of essays and must be requested by email48 hours before the essay is due.
Cell Phones, Laptops, and Other Related Technologies
By the time class starts, cell phones and laptops should be turned off and put away. Cell phones, laptops, tablets, etc. are distracting to you, me, and other members of the class. There will be certain days during the semester you will be able to bring a laptop to class, which I will inform you of as they approach.
Religious Observance
If you have a conflict between a religious holiday and a graded assignment, please contact me in advance so that we can make appropriate arrangements.
Writing Center
The Wabash Writing Center is dedicated to coaching Wabash Men to become the best writers that they can be. When a Wabash Man comes into the Wabash Writing Center, he will meet one-on-one with a trained writing consultant, or the director. Writing Center sessions are scheduled to last 45 minutes, which is enough time to review 6-7 pages of writing. Writing consultants can work with writers at any stage of their writing process. A writer can come to the Wabash Writing Center with a couple of notes on a napkin, and our consultants can help him turn it into the best paper the writer can produce. Writers have to do their own work, but our consultants will make suggestions and offer advice to make a paper better. Consultants are also well versed in grammar concerns, MLA, and APA, and they are happy to answer questions or make minor corrections. However, we leave the line editing and final revisions to the writer. Located on the second floor of the Lilly Library, the Wabash Writing Center is open to all students, faculty and staff. To make an appointment, go to http://www.wabash.edu/writingcenter (Links to an external site.), select the button labeled “Click HERE to make an appointment,” and register in the scheduling system. If you have any questions, please email the director, Dr. Koppelmann, at koppelmz@wabash.edu.
The Office of Student Enrichment
The Office of Student Enrichment (OSE) provides Wabash Men with one-on-one counseling regarding time management skills, study skills, reading skills, and Academic Honesty. The OSE also offers one-on-one support for English Language Learners. Contact Dr. Koppelmann at koppelmz@wabash.edu to arrange for a meeting if would like assistance regarding time management, study skills, reading skills, understanding Academic Honesty, or if would like support for learning American English.
Disability Statement
Students with disabilities (apparent or invisible) are invited to confidentially discuss their situation with the disability coordinator, Heather Thrush, Director of Student Engagement and Success. If a student wishes to receive an academic accommodation, it is required that his documentation ofthe disability be on file with Heather Thrush, who can, in confidence, provide information and guidance. Early notification helps us all work together in the most effective ways. Heather Thrush can be reached at her office (Center Hall 112A), by phone (x6347), or by email (thrushh@wabash.edu).
Communicating Through Email
Emailing about coursework is a type of formal communication. Be sure to include a salutation (e.g. “Hello Prof./Dr. Lambert,”) and a signature (your first name is fine). Use appropriate language and proofread your emails—mechanical errors can cause readers—in this case, me—to misunderstand your message or question your ethos/credibility.
Major Assignments
Essays
Essay 1 20%
Essay 2 20%
Essay 3 25%
Daily Work
Quizzes, drafts, etc. 10%
Class participation 10%
BAE presentation and written analysis 15%
Total: 100%
Point Ranges for Letter Grades:
A (93 – 100%), A- (90 – 92%), B+ (87 – 89%), B (83 – 86%), B- (80 – 82%), C+ (77 – 79%), C (73 – 76%), C- (70 – 72%), D (60 – 69%), F (0 – 59%)
Tentative Schedule
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IN CLASS |
READING DUE |
WRITING DUE |
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Week 1 Friday, Aug. 24
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Introductions
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Week 2 Monday, Aug. 27
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Syllabus quiz
Go over syllabus
Discuss writing
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Course syllabus Elbow, pp. 6-12 (Ch. 1) Bell, pp. xiii-17. |
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Wednesday, Aug. 29
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-No class. -“Getting to know you” conferences in my office.
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Friday, Aug. 31
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Grammar: Case,
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Bell, 18-33. Elbow, Ch. 2
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Week 3 Monday, Sept. 3
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Grammar: Agreement |
Bell, 34-49.
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Wednesday, Sept. 5
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Bell, pp. 50-63.
Elbow, Ch. 25 (pp. 279-287).
BAE: Twain, “Corn-Pone Opinions” (pp. 1-5)
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Friday, Sept. 7
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Bell, pp. 64-87.
Elbow, Ch. 25 (pp. 287-295).
BAE: Hurston, “How It Feels to Be Colored Me” (114-117) and Hughes, “Bop” (190-192)
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Week 4 Monday, Sept. 10
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Peer Review
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Bell, pp. 88-113.
Elbow, pp. 295-303.
BAE: Wright, “The Ethics of Living Jim Crow: An Autobiographical Sketch” and Agee, “Knoxville: Summer of 1915”
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Wednesday, Sept. 12
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BAE: Rd. Baldwin, “Notes of a Native Son” (Section One)
Bell, pp. 114-125.
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Friday, Sept. 14
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BAE: Rd. Baldwin, “Notes of a Native Son” (Sections Two and Three)
Bell, pp. 125-141.
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Week 5 Monday, Sept. 17
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Peer Review.
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Essay 1 draft.
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Wednesday, Sept. 19
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No Class. Conferences in Dr. Lambert’s office.
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Friday, Sept. 21
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BAE: Porter, “The Future Is Now”
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Week 6 Monday, Sept. 24
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Essay 1 Final |
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Wednesday, Sept. 26
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BAE: Muir, “Notes of a Native Son”
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Friday, Sept. 28
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BAE Presentations Start
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BAE: Hemingway, “Pamplona in July” and Stein, “What Are Master-pieces and Why Are There So Few of Them” | BAE Presentation 1 and 2 | |
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Week 7 Monday, Oct. 1
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BAE: Eisely “The Brown Wasps” and Ehrlich, “The Solace of Open Spaces” | BAE Presentation 3 and 4 | ||
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Wednesday, Oct. 3
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BAE: Momaday, “The Way to Rainy Mountain” and Hardwick” and Rodriguez, “Aria: A Memoir of a Bilingual Childhood”
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BAE Presentation 5 and 6
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Friday, Oct. 5
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BAE: Rich, “Women and Honor: Some Notes on Lying” and Kingston, “No Name Woman” | BAE Presentation 7 and 8 | |
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Week 8 Monday, Oct. 8
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Conferences. No class. |
BAE: Herr, “Illumination Rounds” and Manchester, “Okinawa: The Bloodiest Battle of All”
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BAE Presentation 9 and 10 | |
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Wednesday, Oct. 10
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BAE: McPhee, “The Search for Marvin Gardens” and Ozick, “A Drugstore in Winter”
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BAE Presentation 11 and 12
Essay 1 Rewrite (optional)
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Friday, Oct. 12 |
FALL BREAK NO CLASS |
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Week 9 Monday, Oct. 15
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BAE: Dillard, “Total Eclipse” and Gould, “The Creation Myths of Cooperstown” | BAE Presentation 13 and 14
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Wednesday, Oct. 17 |
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Friday, Oct. 19
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Week 10 Monday, Oct. 22
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Wednesday, Oct. 24
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Friday, Oct. 26
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Week 11 Monday, Oct. 29
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Wednesday, Oct. 31
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Friday, Nov. 2
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Week 12 Monday, Nov. 5
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Wednesday, Nov. 7
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Friday, Nov. 9
Bell Game |
No class. Prof. Lambert at Conference. |
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Week 13 Monday, Nov. 12
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No class. Prof. Lambert at Conference.
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Wednesday, Nov. 14 |
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Friday, Nov. 16
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THANKSGIVING BREAK, NOVEMBER 17-25
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Week 14 Monday, Nov. 26
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Wednesday, Nov. 28
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Friday, Nov. 30
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Week 15 Monday, Dec. 3
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Wednesday, Dec. 5
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Friday, Dec. 7
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FINALS WEEK |
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matthewmlambert.com 